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Lesson 85
An Early Morning Surprise
1912
 84. Burned at the Stake 86. Some Very Distinguished Geese 
LESSON 85
An Early Morning Surprise

Ōlim Gallī Indīque castellum quoddam hieme expugnāre cōnstituērant. Quārē per nivem altam summō labōre prōgressī, nocte intempestā in silvā haud procul ab oppidō castra collocāvērunt; deinde, impedīmentīs praesidiō paucīs relictīs, vigiliā quārtā ferē exāctā ad mūnītiōnēs pede; temptim accessērunt. Nam per nivem gelū rigidam iter iam faciendum erat, timēbantque nē sonus ā colōnīs audirētur; quam ob rem ab imperātōre iussī erant paulum prōgredī, tum paulum stāre, tum iterum paulum prōgredī, ut strepitus exercitūs per nivem iter facientis sonus tantum ventōrum vidērētur. At nihil suspicābantur colōnī; quīn etiam custōdēs ipsī somnō gravissimō quiescebant.

Itaque hostēs facillimē in castellum pervēnērunt; nix enim ūnā ex parte tam alta fuit, ut mūnītiōnēs vix exstārent. Tum dēmum, ululātu ācrī sublatō, barbarī colōnōs perterritōs cōnfēstim dētrāxērunt ē lectīs, et undique caedēs incendiaque miscuērunt. In castellō praedā multā ēs potītī sunt atque ad vesperum, caede incendīisque aliquandō dēfessī, sē ad silvam contulērunt. Victoriā tamen nōn incruenta parta erat: nam intrā castellum erant complūra tēcta minōra; quōrum ūnum cum barbarī expugnāre frūstrā cōnārentur, tēlīs inde coniectīs multī interfectī erant.

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